Anna Karenina - Part 7

"Ah, 'Aline-Nadine,' to be sure! There's no room with us. Go to

that table, and make haste and take a seat," said the prince, and

turning away he carefully took a plate of eel soup.

"Levin, this way!" a good-natured voice shouted a little farther

on. It was Turovtsin. He was sitting with a young officer, and

beside them were two chairs turned upside down. Levin gladly

went up to them. He had always liked the good-hearted rake,

Turovtsin--he was associated in his mind with memories of his

courtship--and at that moment, after the strain of intellectual

conversation, the sight of Turovtsin's good-natured face was

particularly welcome.

"For you and Oblonsky. He'll be here directly."

The young man, holding himself very erect, with eyes forever

twinkling with enjoyment, was an officer from Petersburg, Gagin.

Turovtsin introduced them.

"Oblonsky's always late."

"Ah, here he is!"

"Have you only just come?" said Oblonsky, coming quickly towards

them. "Good day. Had some vodka? Well, come along then."

Levin got up and went with him to the big table spread with

spirits and appetizers of the most various kinds. One would have

thought that out of two dozen delicacies one might find something

to one's taste, but Stepan Arkadyevitch asked for something

special, and one of the liveried waiters standing by immediately

brought what was required. They drank a wine glassful and

returned to their table.

At once, while they were still at the soup, Gagin was served with

champagne, and told the waiter to fill four glasses. Levin did

not refuse the wine, and asked for a second bottle. He was very

hungry, and ate and drank with great enjoyment, and with still

greater enjoyment took part in the lively and simple conversation

of his companions. Gagin, dropping his voice, told the last good

story from Petersburg, and the story, though improper and stupid,

was so ludicrous that Levin broke into roars of laughter so loud

that those near looked round.

"That's in the same style as, 'that's a thing I can't endure!'

You know the story?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "Ah, that's

exquisite! Another bottle," he said to the waiter, and he began

to relate his good story.

"Pyotr Illyitch Vinovsky invites you to drink with him," a little

old waiter interrupted Stepan Arkadyevitch, bringing two delicate

glasses of sparkling champagne, and addressing Stepan

Arkadyevitch and Levin. Stepan Arkadyevitch took the glass, and

looking towards a bald man with red mustaches at the other end of

the table, he nodded to him, smiling.